Second Lieutenant John Bell
John Bell was born on 28 November 1896 at Ardbree, Portadown, County Armagh, fourth of eight children to National School teacher John Bell and his wife Ella Clarke Bell (nee Johnson).
By 1911 the family was living at Belmont Terrace, Circular Road North, Dublin. John was a student at The High School, Dublin, and his father Professor of Experimental Science (AM LLD, UCD).
Bell enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Antrim on 3 May 1915 (No.1511 – later Corps of Hussars No.71414). He was promoted to lance corporal on 28 July and corporal on 18 November. He embarked for France with E Squadron on 11 January 1916.
On 24 December 1916 Bell applied for a commission in the cavalry. He left the squadron for officer training on 24 March 1917, reporting for duty at the No.1 Cavalry Cadet Squadron at Netheravon on 21 May.
However Bell was not a success at cavalry officer training, the officer commanding reporting him to be "unsuitable for commission in the Cavalry, but recommended for transfer to an Infantry Cadet Bn." He transferred to No.11 Officer Cadet Battalion at Pirbright on 7 September 1917.
Bell was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant on 18 December 1917 and posted to the 11th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, at Aldershot.
In August 1918 Bell was attached to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment. He embarked for France and joined the battalion in the field at Croisilles on 8 September, one of eight officer reinforcements joining that day (six from the Royal Dublin Fusiliers).
During the next two months the battalion participated in the Advance to Victory offensive. The war diary for 10 and 11 November reports:
[10 November] The Bde moved from Sars-la-Bruyere, leap frogging the 190th Brigade outside Nouvelles & then continuing the pursuit. A great deal of hostile Artillery & M.G. fire was encountered. Nevertheless an advance of about 3 kilos was made.
[11 November] Armistice has been signed & hostilities ceased at 11 am today. The Bn had advanced as far as Spiennes about 5 kilos since yesterday suffering casualties 5 officers & 79 ORs.
2nd Lieutenant Bell was one of the five officer casualties, sustaining severe machine gun bullet wounds to his thighs during an attack beyond Mons. He was taken to No.30 Casualty Clearing Station at Cambrai and from there to No.8 General Hospital at Rouen. On 21 November he was evacuated to England and taken to the 1st Southern General Hospital at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
Bell made a slow but complete recovery. In January 1919 he was allowed a month's leave at his family home at Glencairn, North Circular Road, Phoenix Park, Dublin. By February he was fit for home service and ordered to join the 3rd Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, at Weelsby Camp near Grimsby.
Bell was demobilised on 1 April 1919. He relinquished his commission on 1 September 1921.
One of John Bell's brothers, Randal, also served in the North Irish Horse, enlisting at the end of 1915 (No.2004).